The Lathrop Police Department took two guns off the street in less than a week.

According to the agency, officers conducted a traffic stop on Harlan Road on Saturday for vehicle code violations. Upon further investigation officers say they had probable cause to search the vehicle and discovered a loaded, unregistered firearm.

The driver was arrested for firearms-related charges and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail and their vehicle was towed.

Just a few days prior, an observant motorist saw a man putting a gun into his waistband and called the police with a description of the vehicle. Officers were able to locate the man in the area of Golden Valley Parkway and Louise Avenue where they conducted a traffic stop and arrested the driver – an out-of-state resident – for a host of weapons-related charges.

That arrest was the first gun arrest for the agency’s new K9 Team of Officer Vatche Tatarian and partner Rico.

According to a report published in August by the Public Policy Institute of California, violent crime involving guns has risen sharply in California from its pre-pandemic levels – anchored by a 52 percent increase in homicides involving guns from 2019 to 2021 and 64 percent increase in aggravated assaults during the same time frame.

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.